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The Jays won 11 in a row to get back into the conversation and now have lost eight of the next 11 to become marginal once again.

The Twins series on the weekend now becomes key to at least buying time to figure out how to compete with the quality teams. How far this team has to go to be true contenders showed up in the Rays (1-2), Red Sox (1-3) and Tigers (1-3) series. The Jays had a chance in the Red Sox finale to earn a split and failed. After winning the opener vs. the Tigers, they had three shots at earning a split and fell flat again. Adjustments must be made, and bringing Brett Lawrie back is one of them. On to the Mailbag.

Q. Richard,

It’s obvious you know very little about baseball and your ratings prove it. In fact, you know less than Cathal Kelly when it comes to baseball, and your “ratings” are very superficial, not well thought out. example, McGowan, the lame duck pitcher the Jays have been carrying for years is rated an “A+” while the best pitcher, Dickey is only rated a “C.” If this was an exam, I’d rate you a “0”. Have a nice day

Vincent Chiba

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Markham, Ontario

A. Ouch, that Cathal Kelly quote hurts, because when he began as a Jays beat writer back in the day I honestly believe that I taught him everything he knows about baseball. Now he has eclipsed his mentor like Plato did with Socrates.

People seem not to have read the criteria for my Blue Jays report card: Players are graded based on how they performed compared to pre-season expectations. That is why Dustin McGowan is A+ because there was absolutely zero expectation of him getting beck to the majors in 2013 and to watch him come out of the pen at 96-97 m.p.h. is A+mazing.

Q. Is there a reason why Dave Bush doesn’t seem to be on the radar for the Sunday start? I assume he was signed as someone with major league experience to serve as injury insurance.

Dave Easby

A. Bush’s recent history would indicate that helping the Jays right now is a reach, plus there is the scouting aspect which does not include just looking at the stats that Bush has posted. If he is recalled again, especially as a starter, it would mean the Jays farm system has failed.

Q. Hi Richard,

At the pace Josh Johnson is going at, do you see the Jays making a real play for his services going forward after his contract expires this year? Perhaps he is better suited for the National League?

Also, what is with the Umpire in yesterday’s ninth inning against the Tigers? He clearly missed seeing Kawasaki get hit by a pitch and then refused to even ask his umpire colleagues if they saw anything different.

All the best to you Richard. Happy 4th of July from here in the States!

Dean Germano

Redding, CA.

A. If Josh Johnson does not show more in the second half, it would be difficult to see the Jays pursuing him on a multi-year basis. However, how much would anyone offer Johnson after a season like he is having? He may come at a bargain price for a multi-year and if the Jays make him a qualifying one-year offer of around $13 million (as mandated in the CBA) and if he can’t generate any other offers that match that amount on a per-year basis, then they could possibly end up with JJ for another year where he could have another run at his free agency bonanza after 2014. Is he more suited to the NL? At the moment, given his AL struggles this year, it certainly seems that way. Things can change in a hurry though.

The Kawasaki HBP/Bunt call was ridiculous. Many umpire crews will get together in the middle of the diamond and discuss in a case like that, if a manager requests it. Not this crew, not this umpire, not for this manager.

Q. Hey Griff,

Is there any accountability for umps in the league? Like when an ump screws up, does he get a call from head office saying “Hey Alan, you screwed that one up. Get your head out of your %$$!” or does he just go on his merry way? Umps seem to have a sublime arrogance where they act as if they are 100 per cent right when there is definitive evidence otherwise. One wonders if they have to answer to a higher power on their more flagrant miscalls.

Cheers

Tim, Toronto

A. Yes, their performances are reviewable on video back at MLB headquarters in New York. Any official feedback to the individual umpires is done behind closed doors, but, as a clue, just take a look at who is NOT asked to umpire playoffs or all-star games to see a potential list of umpires in the MLB doghouse.

Q. Hey, Richard:

Looking to next year (yeah, it’s that time now!), do the Jays see Stroman as a reliever or a starter? He’s starting at Manchester but I’d always heard his quickest way to the Show would be as a reliever. While we’re at it, how do they view John Stilson?

Thanks,

Bruce Spurrier

A. Marcus Stroman — at the time he was drafted — was considered more strongly as a bullpen guy because he basically had just two pitches that were major league-ready, the fastball and slider. But since then, he has added a third pitch which makes him eligible to be considered for a starting role in 2014, or even later this season. He is now 22 and is not far away from being considered every time there is a need. Another 22-year-old among the Top 20 Jays prospects is Stilson. He has been working strictly out of the bullpen in Buffalo but has walked too many batters in his 17 games in 2013 and needs to work on his command. The Texas A&M product does not have to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2014 season, so the Jays will likely take advantage of that fact and keep him in the minors.

Q. Hi Rich,

It occurred to me that the best thing that might have happened to Brett Lawrie would have been a one-game suspension for insubordination after his on field meltdown. He was not suspended and played the next night only to incur the injury that has kept him out of the lineup. Any thoughts on how he would have taken the suspension?

William

A. Should he have been suspended by the Jays for his petulant behaviour after Lind did not score on his flyball? No. He’s done worse things with no repercussion (backhanded compliment?), but his next day’s injury on an awkward slide seemed like karma to many critics.

Q. Hi Rich

I have a 2-part question about minor league salaries. First, are minor league salaries negotiated with each player or are they flat ‘fee for service’ amounts? And second, when a minor league player is called up is that player paid more money for the time he plays in the majors?

Thanks.

E Pakozdi

Port Colborne

A. There is a minor-league salary scale depending on your years of service and the level at which you are playing. However, veteran six-year minor-league free agents and MLB free agents can be signed to and negotiate their own, larger, salaries prior to the season. Usually not more than $150,000. And, yes, when any player is called to the major leagues, he earns the pro-rated major-league minimum unless he has a contract with the club that is a two-way deal, then he earns that amount pro-rated.

Q. Hi there, thanks for your many insights.

I don’t know if this is a baseball question per se, but here goes. It’s great to see larger crowds for the Jays but I’m confused about what a sell-out is, exactly.

Rogers Centre says its baseball capacity is 46,105 not including the boxes. For Canada Day, the Jays drew 45,776 but had no tickets left at all (sadly), which was called a sell-out. That I kind of get. What I don’t is how there are 48,000+ for Opening Day and, if that many can go in April, why there weren’t that many for a sell-out.

Could you shed any light on this?

Cheers,

James, Toronto

A-The 46,105 capacity is the number of seats available. In the Canada Day sellout of 45,776, I’m assuming that the Jays honoured the Canadian military and gave them a bunch of tickets to the game. Thus, the tickets were actually used and capacity was reached but only 45,776 were paid for. The Red Sox at Fenway had a tremendous streak of sellouts over many years and every night the number was slightly different. At the Rogers Centre, now that they knocked out Windows restaurant, there is also that standing room area that may allow the attendance number to be higher in a sellout.

Q. Hi Richard,

How many times did the Jays have bases loaded versus Boston with no outs and up comes Rasmus and Arencibia and bingo: Inning over with no runs scored. But I would really like to know how many called third strikes against the Red Sox do the Red Sox have at Fenway. I think the umpires are intimidated at Fenway.

Stephen Rain

A. I honestly believe that guys like David Ortiz and Miguel Cabrera get more respect from umpires when they take a close pitch. Jose Bautista should by all rights be in that same category of when he does not swing at a close pitch it’s a ball. Instead, umps have determined that when Bautista does not swing at a close pitch, especially early in the count, it’s a strike. It’s a vicious circle that brings out the Joey Bats temper that leads to more close calls against him. Maybe if over the years he hadn’t argued so much, he might be in that elite hitter category. I don’t think umps are intimidated by Fenway fans.

Q. Hi Richard,

Any idea when Brett Lawrie will be returning? And when is Morrow expected to be back?

Regards

Tony D’Souza

Toronto

A. Lawrie is currently at A-Lansing where he was 0-for-3 batting leadoff on July 4 in his first game. He had batted .500 with six hits in 12 at-bats at Class-A Dunedin. He then took time off last Saturday to attend his sister Danielle’s wedding in Boston. Originally the wedding was planned to allow Brett to get back to the Jays’ 4:00 p.m. game at Fenway. Oh well, the best laid plans, etc., etc. Physically it would seem Lawrie is ready to go right now. His timing at the plate is the issue, however, and after the April debacle, the Jays insist they will not rush him back. As for Morrow, he is pain-free but will make rehab starts until the Jays feel he is ready to help the Jays. That may be up to a month unless they panic.

Hi Richard,

I read that Buerhle said that he was working better with Arencibia now. I have wondered for a long time if that has not been a problem for the other starters. He has to share some of the blame for the starters coming out of the gate the way they did. I like Arencibia but, in my mind, he is not yet rounded into an every day catcher. Why would they not have used Blanco more when he was here and why would they not use Thole more than being Dickey’s personal catcher ? Has AA made a promise to him that must be honoured?

Thanks

Fred

A. I would just try and use Thole behind the plate in Josh Johnson’s next start. If that works out, then with Thole handling Johnson and Dickey, I would not be opposed to that. It would still give Arencibia three of every five starts. His bat, no matter what he says, has not warranted being an 80-percent-of-games starter. And something must change for Johnson who is nibbling too much for a power pitcher and not getting the calls on close pitches. .

Q. Hi Richard,

Is it a coincidence that the Jays had that good win streak with Brett Lawrie on the DL? I know he is one of your favourites, but does he really fit in with the team?

I always enjoy your writing and the mailbag.

Art in Winnipeg

Lawrie fits in on this team and I am looking forward to seeing Lawrie and Reyes together playing defence on the left side of the diamond.

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